AN online petition has been launched to get the man mistakenly interviewed on BBC News 24 a job at the corporation.

Guy Goma, a graduate from the Congo, was waiting to be interviewed for a job in the BBC's IT department when he was suddenly thrust on to live television.

He has since discovered that he has not got the data support cleanser post he had applied for.

Now the www.guygoma.com website has started an online campaign to get the unlikely TV star a job at the BBC.

The petition reads:

To: BBC

We, the fans of Guy Goma, would like to support Guy's application for a full-time position within the BBC, following his recent application.

Guy was mistakenly interviewed live on TV, rather than sitting the job interview he was in the building to attend.

We urge the BBC to give Guy the job he applied for, or a better one.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Mr Goma became an overnight sensation when he appeared on BBC News 24 to be questioned about the outcome of the Apple vs Apple court case.

The mix-up occurred when a producer went to collect the expert from the wrong reception in BBC Television Centre in west London.

The producer asked for Guy Kewney, editor of Newswireless.net, who was supposed to be interviewed.

After being pointed in Mr Goma's direction by a receptionist, the producer - who had seen a photo of the real expert - checked: "Are you Guy Kewney?"

On air

The economics and business studies graduate answered in the affirmative and was whisked up to the studio.

Business presenter Karen Bowerman, who was to interview the expert, managed to get a message to the editor that the guest seemed "very breathless and nervous".

Mr Goma was eventually asked three questions live on air, and he assumed it was an interview situation.

It was only later that it was discovered that Mr Kewney was still waiting in reception - prompting producers to wonder who their wrong man was.

Mr Goma's live interview led to several TV appearances, including The Jonathan Ross Show and manning the phones for the Prince's Trust broadcast. A copy of the video has been removed from host site YouTube, after they said the BBC requested it be taken down.

Meanwhile, Mr Goma is auctioning the lucky blue shirt he wore during the famous TV interview for charity.

Lucky

He says of the blue shirt on the http://www.15minutesauction.com website: "This is the shirt I wore which nearly got me a job on the BBC.

"I didn't get the job but I did become an overnight celebrity. I'm auctioning this shirt off so that someone else can be as lucky as I was.

"Who knows what amazing things will happen to you when you own my lucky blue shirt.

"PS. the shirt has been worn a couple of times (to interviews)."

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to Oxfam.

SHOULD Mr Goma get a job from the BBC? Have your say.

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